Rack-rail.



v No.'-'Z72,97 1. PATENTED 00125, 1904.

E. A. SPERRY. I

RACK RAIL.

APPLICATION rum MAE. 31,1904.

N 0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 'fness: I %2/ 977T02i' 170.. 772,971. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

- B. A. SPERRY.

RACK RAIL.

' APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 31,1904.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

PATENT I OFFICE.

ELMER A. SPERRY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO MORGAN ELECTRIC MACHINE COMPANY, OF EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

RACK-RAIL.

Applicam' on filed March 31,1904.

T all whom it mag concern:

Be it knownv that I, ELM-ER A. SPERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleve- "or rail-joint.

land, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Rack- Rail, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rack-rails, and es pecially to rack-rails adapted to be employed as a traction-rack and also as an electric conductor.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction of combined rack-rail and conductor which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

4 Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, parts broken ofi, showing a rackrail embodying the principles of my invention and a construction and arrangement of insulating-support therefor. Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section through a rack-rail constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention and showing the application thereto of one form of fish-plate Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section, showing a' modified arrangement of insulating sheath or support for the rack-rail and the application thereto off fish-plates or rail-joints. Fig. '5 is a view in side elevation, parts broken off and parts in section, showing another modified form of insulating-support for the rack-rail embraced within the spirit and scope of my invention. Fig. 6 is a view in transverse section onthe line 6 6, Fig. 5.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the construction of rack-rail systems wherein the rack performs the double func- Serial No- 200,889- (No model.)

tion of a traction-rack and an electrical conductor it is important to provide means whereby the rack is efliciently insulated inorder to enable it, to perform its function of a con ductor, while at the same time itisnecessary to so mount and arrange the same and, the in' sulation thereof as not to interfere with the operation thereof as a traction-rack or the engagement therewith of a traction gear or sprocket carried by the locomotive or car and driven in a well-known manner. It is also important to provide against the accumulation of dirt or the like upon the rack, which might otherwise interfere with proper electrical connection or contact between the rack and traction-gear which engages with it or able to so mount the rack as to prevent accidental contact therewith. It is among the special purposesof my present invention to provide a construction of traction-rack rail and insulating-support or rail-joint connection wherein these desirable objects are attained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference-sign A designates the traction-rack rail, preferably U-shaped in transverse section and when placed in position for-use, with the flanges forming the sides thereof being depending or presented downwardly from the fiat web portion connecting such flanges. These flanges are indicated by reference-sign B, and throughthe connecting-web are formed slots or openings C to receive the teeth ofthe rigidity of the traction-rack and to receive the strains exerted by the pulling effort of the traction-gear. The outer surfaces of the flanges B preferably lie in parallel planes, as 5 clearly indicated in the drawings, (see Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 6,) While the inner surfaces of the flanges B are beveled or taper toward the connecting-web of the rack. By this construction it will be observed that the traction-rack is provided with flanking surfaces or faces, forming means for affording a lateral bearing therefor to resist any lateral strain which may be imposed upon the rack when in use. It is obvious that the holes or openings may be of any suitable or desirable contour.

It is obvious that many specifically different constructions may be devised for suitably insulating the rack constructed as above described and of protecting the same against accidental contact. As one form of means for accomplishing this result, to which, however, my invention is not to be limited or restricted, I employ longitudinal stringers F of insulating materialsuch, for instance, as woodbetween which the rack A is clamped, the proximate surfaces or faces of the stringers F lying against the flat parallel flanking surfaces of the flange B of the rack, the stringers F being clamped against the flat outer surfaces of the flanges B in any suitable or convenient manner as, for instance, by means of the clamp-bolts Gr. (See Fig. 2.) Preferably the distance between the top and bottom surfaces of the stringers is greater than the length of the flanges B, so that the rack will rest below the top surfaces of the stringers F, so as to render the rack inaccessible except to the sprocket-gear which cooperates therewith, which gear enters the space between the stringers F to a suflicient depth to effect intermeshing relation with the rack. In the manner described not only is the rack efficiently insulated, but any lateral bearingsupport is afforded the same through the bearings of the flanking faces against the juxtaposited surfaces of the stringers. It will also be seen that the stringers, in efl ect, constitute an insulating-sheathing, afl'ording eflicient insulation for the rack, and in order to secure rigidity of structure as between the stringers and rack the clamping-bolts G or other securing means by which the stringers F are clamped against the flanking faces of the rack may be arranged to pass through the flanges B of the rack.

The rack and its insulating-sheathing, as above described, may be supported in the road-bed in any suitable or convenient manner so long as such support affords an insulation for the rack. In Figs. 1, Z, and t I have shown the conductor-rack and its insulatingsheathing as supported upon transverse Wooden ties or sleepers H. If desired, however, the rack and its inclosing sheathing may be supported upon insulators (indicated at J, Figs. and 6) in a well-known manner and spaced convenientdistances apart, and, il' desired, the rack A may rest directly upon its insulating-support, as shown in Fig. 2, and in turn serve as a support for the housing or sheathing, such housing or sheathing being braced against lateral movement in any suit able or. convenient manner as, for instance, by means of the bracket or casting K.

\Vhere the rack is made. up of sections placed end to end, such sections are bolted or otherwise secured together. In order to secure the necessary continuity of the rack when thus made up of sections and to enable the rack to shift its sections, it is necessary that the means employed for connecting adjacent ends of the rack-sections be also of such character as willnot detract from the conductivity of the conductor, and hence it is desirable to provide means whereby eflicient eleelrieal contact is maintained between the abutting ends of adjacent sections of the rack. To this end I employ fish-plates at the joints between the abutting ends of adjacent racksections of such construction and arrangement as to serve as connecting means for such abutting ends without at the same time interfering with the electrical cont inuity of the rack. In Fig. 3 I have shown one form of fish-plate or joint connection comprising a block L, which is exteriorly tapering to conform to the inner bevel or inclined or supporting surfaces of the flanges B of the rack, said block iitting into the space between such flanges and being securely bolted or otherwise secured, as indicated at M, to tl abutting ends of adjacent sections of the rack. Thus it will be seen that the beveled or inclined inner surfaces of the flanges B afl'ord means for securing an ei'licient contact between the rail-sections and the fish-plate or connecting-block L where the latter is wedged up in between thetaperi ng flanges of the rack, it being readily seen that any upward pres sure placed upon the fish-plate or block L by its securing-bolts M all'ords a comparatively powerful clamping action thereof. I do not desire to be limited or restricted to this form of connector or fish-plate, as other forms accomplishing the same objects may equally well answer the purpose. For instance, in Fig. I: I have shown fish-plates N arranged to be received in recesses or seats formed in the jux taposited sides or surfaces of the stringers F and bearing against the outer flat parallel surfaces of the flanges B of the rack, being clamped thereagainst in any convenient manner-as, for instance, by means of the bolts 0. In this form embodying the principles of my invention the desired electrical continuity of the rack is secured through the intimate bearing contact of the fish-plates N against the comparatively wide flat exterior surfaces of flanges B of the rack, said lishplates being efliciently clamped thereae'ainst and not only securing intimacy of elect ical contact between abutting ends of adjacent l flangesextendingparallel with respeotto each rack-sections, but also affording efficient means for clamping or securing such ends together to secure mechanical continuity of the rack.

In Fig. 6 I have shown another form of fish-plate embodying the principles of my in: vention and wherein the fish-plate constitutes a support for the rack and its inclosing or insulating housing or sheathing. In this form of embodiment P designates a casting suitably mounted upon an insulator or otherwise insulated from the ground and provided with the arms Q, which are designed to be clamped.

against the outer flat sides or surfaces of the rack-flanges, being clamped together or into efficient bearing contact against the outer surfaces of the flanges in any convenient manneras, for instance, by means of the bolts Rthe arms Q being received within convenient recesses or seats formed in the juxtaposited surfaces of the stringers F. In this manner the fish plates constitute supporting means by which the rack and its sheathing are supported and insulated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the traction-rack is substantially U shape in. cross-section, the connecting-web portion of the rack being flattened and the perforations or openings being formed therethrough. A rack of this contour is, in effect, a channel-bar and can be readily rolled in the manufacture thereof into the desired shape, and the outer surfaces of the flanges of the rack afford wide lateral bearing-surfaces therefor not only for strengthening and se curing rigidity of the rack, but also affording means for elfecting efficient electrical continuity between adjacent sections of the rack whether the connecting fish-plates be applied on the outside thereof, as shown in Figs. 4

and 6, or upon the inside and between the flanges, as shown in Fig. 3.

It is obvious that many other modifications and changes in the details of construction and arrangement would readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still-fall within the spirit and scope of my invention; I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details-shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and various constructions and arrangements embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A combined conductor and traction-rack having a perforated web portion, and integral flanges at the edges of the web, said flanges extending laterally with respect to the plane of the web, and an insulating-support for said rack.

2. A combined conductor and traction-rack having a perforated web portion, and flanges formed at the edges of the web portion, said other and at an angle to the plane of the web, and an insulating-support for said rack,

3. A combined conductor and traction-rack having laterally-extending parallel flanges at the edges thereof, and a connecting-web, said web having perforations or openings therethrough, and an insulating-sheathing forming a housing for such rack, as and for the purpose set forth. 1

4. Acombined conductor and traction-rack having lateral flanges at the edges thereof, and a perforated connecting-web, the outer surfaces of said flanges being parallel, and an insulating-sheathing for the rack having hearing against the outer parallel surfaces of said flanges, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A combined conductor and traction-rack having lateral flanges at the edges thereof,and a perforated connecting-web, the outer surfaces of said flanges being parallel, an insulating-sheathing for the rack having bearing against the outer parallel surfaces of said flanges, and means for clamping said insulating-sheathing against such surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A combined conductor and traction-rack, made in sections, each section having laterallyextending flanges at the edges thereof, and a connecting-web, said web'being perforated, in combination with a conductor connection applied to the surface of said flanges to secure mechanical and electrical continuity between said sections, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A combined conductor and traction-rack, made in sections, each section having laterallyextending flanges at the edges thereof, and a connecting-web, said web being perforated, in combination with a conductor connection applied to the surface of said flanges to secure mechanical and electrical continuitybetween said sections, and an insulating sheathing or housing for said rack, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A combined conductor and traction-rack,- made in sections, each section having laterallyextending flanges at the edges thereof, and a connecting-web, said web being perforated, in combinationwith a conductor connection applied to the surface of said flanges to secure mechanical and electrical continuitybetween said sections, and an insulating-support for the rack, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. A combined conductor and traction-rack, having lateral flanges forming flanking surfaces at the edges thereof, and a perforated connecting-web, said flanking flanges being tapering in cross-section, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. A combined conductor and tractionrack, having lateral flanges forming flanking surfaces at the edges thereof, and a perforated connecting-web, 'said flanking flanges being tapering on the inner surfaces thereof, as and. for the purpose set forth.

11. A combined conductor and tract-ionrack, having lateral flanges forming flanking surfaces at the edges thereof, and a perforated connecting-web, said flanking flanges having parallel exterior surfaces and tapering inner surfaces, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. A combined conductor and tractionrack, in combination with an insulating sheathing or housing therefor, said sheathing or housingbeing supported by said rack, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. A combined conductor and tractionrack, made in sections arranged end to end, each section having interiorly-tapering flanges at the edges thereof, and a perforated eonmeeting-Web, in combination with an exteriorly-tapering connector applied between said flanges to secure mechanical and electrical eontinuity of said rack, as and for the purpose set forth.

14:. A combined conductor and tractionrack, made in sections arranged end to end, each. section having lateral flanges forming flanking portions, and a perforated connecting-web, in combination with a connector applied to the rack between said flanges to secure mechanical and electrical continuity of the rack, as and for the purpose set forth.

15. A combined conductor and tractionrack, made in sections arranged end to end, each section having lateral flanges forming flanking portions, and a connecting-web, in combination with insulating-stringers applied against the exterior surfaces of said flanking portions, and connectors applied between said flanking portions to secure mechanical and electrical continuity of the rack, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 28th day of March, 190%, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

ELMER A. SPERRY.

Vitnesses:

LURA M. PoMuRuNn, L. (J. RICHARDSON. 

